Excuse Me M’am – Pressure OK?

Within my first five days of being in India, I had the extreme pleasure to experience two ayurvedic massages. Unlike any massage I’ve ever had, the ayurvedic approach is quite wonderful and has a more medicinal value than the deep tissue massages I’m used to.

The process started with a ten minute head massage that sufficiently began to relax me.

I was then helped on to a wooden table that was shaped like a speed bump – imagine laying across your own personal speed bump with your arms and legs gently resting on either side. As warm coconut oil began to be poured over my body in what seemed to be by the gallons, I realized that the shape of the table was perfect for catching the oil as it slid off of my body.

Two women, working in tandem, spread the oil for this full body massage and worked their way from the tips of my fingers (which were raised above my head) to my feet. It’s not possible to have a deep tissue massage with so much oil but the gentle and constant pressure was delightful.

During the process, the primary masseuse continued to ask me, “Excuse me m’am, pressure OK?”